Google has started rolling out its August 2025 spam update, the company confirmed on 28 August at 12:05 p.m. This is the search giant’s first announced spam update of the year and the first since December 2024. It also marks the company’s first algorithm update since the June 2025 core update.
The new spam update will take several weeks to be fully implemented across all languages and regions, according to Google. The company described it as a “normal spam update,” with no specific changes or new features being highlighted at this stage.
In its announcement, Google stated: “Today, we released the August 2025 spam update. It may take a few weeks to complete. This is a standard spam update that will be rolled out for all languages and locations. We’ll post on the Google Search Status Dashboard when the rollout is done.”
Previous spam updates show mixed volatility
The last time Google released a spam update was in December 2024, which began rolling out on 19 December and was completed on 26 December. That update was described as more volatile than the June 2024 spam update, which was rolled out between 20 and 27 June 2024.
Google regularly implements spam updates to target websites that violate its guidelines or attempt to manipulate search rankings. These updates are designed to ensure that high-quality content continues to rank well in search results, reducing the visibility of harmful, low-quality, or misleading material.
The company’s decision to release another spam update after eight months suggests an ongoing effort to refine its systems and address new types of spam that have emerged over time.
Impact on website rankings remains to be seen
For website owners, marketers, and SEO professionals, the August 2025 spam update is expected to bring noticeable changes to search engine rankings and traffic patterns over the next few weeks. While Google has not specified which types of spam are being targeted, industry experts recommend closely monitoring performance to identify any issues.
As with previous updates, any sudden fluctuations in site visibility or traffic could be attributed to changes made under this rollout. Google typically encourages site owners to focus on producing high-quality, relevant content that aligns with its webmaster guidelines rather than attempting to adapt specifically to each algorithm update.
The company has assured that updates of this nature are a routine part of maintaining the quality and integrity of search results. Google’s Search Status Dashboard will provide confirmation when the rollout is complete.
